Lyon and its surroundings are filled with must-attend events throughout the year. Whether you’re a fan of culture, sports, or simply looking for new discoveries, the region offers a multitude of opportunities to enrich your stay.
Lyon Events
Throughout the year, the city of Lyon offers a range of cultural experiences.
Festival Between Rhône and Saône
Now firmly established in Lyon’s summer calendar, the Festival Between Rhône and Saône is a local event where festivities and environmental awareness blend harmoniously. It’s the perfect opportunity to bring the community together around the preservation of our water resources while enjoying pleasant moments with family or friends.
Re Lyon Nous
The city of Lyon offers both residents and visitors a fun and free event known as Re Lyon Nous. This weekend of sharing and entertainment brings participants together in teams of 2 to 4 people for a unique exploration of the city.
Re Lyon Nous is centered around a recreational spirit, guiding participants through sporting, playful, and cultural stages while passing by Lyon’s iconic landmarks. At the heart of this adventure, an exciting mystery serves as the thread, offering a thrilling puzzle-solving experience throughout the journey.
Run in Lyon
Run in Lyon is much more than just a race; it’s a sporting adventure that allows you to discover the city in a completely unique way, all while challenging yourself. This annual event in Lyon is open to athletes of all levels, offering everyone the chance to participate in this exhilarating marathon through the heart of Lyon.
Open Parc
Whether you’ve always been a fan of tennis or are discovering the sport for the first time, the Open Parc offers an exciting spectacle that will satisfy all sports enthusiasts. This Lyon event is a unique opportunity to watch the world’s top tennis players compete in an intense competitive atmosphere. The Open Parc brings together the best players in the world in three major categories: men’s singles, women’s singles, and doubles.
La Vogue des Marrons
This flagship event in Lyon attracts thousands of locals and tourists who come to experience this memorable popular festival. La Vogue des Marrons is an unforgettable experience for both young and old, offering a full immersion into the festive spirit of autumn.
At the heart of the Vogue des Marrons, a funfair unfolds with numerous rides and culinary delights, including roasted chestnuts and glasses of white wine, perfectly complementing the autumn atmosphere.
Lyon Street Food Festival
Every year in June, the former Fagor Brandt factories become the venue for a major gastronomic event: the Lyon Street Food Festival. The Lyon Street Food Festival is more than just a culinary festival. This essential event gathers a hundred talented chefs and thousands of food lovers eager to discover new culinary delights. It’s a great chance to dive into the world of international cuisine while exploring the exotic flavors of Lyon.
The Vintage Fashion Market
Shopping at the Vintage Fashion Market is more than just retail therapy; it’s a journey through time. The clothes, accessories, and items you’ll find will help you create a unique personal style, full of the elegance and creativity of past eras. Whether you’re a professional, a collector, a fashion enthusiast, or simply curious to discover vintage pieces, this Lyon event will charm you with its retro ambiance and hidden treasures.
Les Quais du Polar
Each year, the Palais de Bondy becomes the nerve center of the Quais du Polar. This Lyon event offers a rare opportunity to immerse yourself in the world of crime fiction. Thriller and crime novel lovers will find joy as they browse the bookstore stands, where they can purchase crime novels and meet renowned authors. The Quais du Polar Festival goes beyond book sales, offering an immersive experience where participants are invited to step into the shoes of detectives and solve complex mysteries. Additionally, conferences with authors, roundtable discussions, and debates explore the themes of crime fiction from a fresh perspective.
Les Nuits de Fourvière
Each year, Lyon eagerly awaits the Nuits de Fourvière, a rich and diverse cultural festival. Whether you’re passionate about theatre, a dance aficionado, a music lover, or simply seeking a memorable cultural experience, the Nuits de Fourvière invites you to immerse yourself in art in all its forms. It’s the perfect occasion to celebrate creativity and artistic expression while enjoying Lyon’s historical charm. What makes the Nuits de Fourvière especially unique is the majestic setting in which it takes place: the ancient Théâtre de Fourvière.
Nuits Sonores Festival
The Nuits Sonores Festival is an unmissable annual celebration for all electronic music lovers, where creativity, innovation, and sensory experience combine to create an electrifying atmosphere. The Nuits Sonores Festival transcends the boundaries of music, offering an unforgettable immersive artistic experience. Every year in May, Lyon transforms into an open-air music stage, hosting avant-garde artists and internationally renowned DJs. Prepare to be swept away by the pulsating rhythms of Nuits Sonores and explore the fascinating world of electro and experimental music.
Woodstower and Wintower Festivals
Music takes center stage at these summer and winter festivals. The Woodstower Festival brilliantly combines the best of rap and electronic music for an explosive sonic mix.
The Wintower Festival invites you to rediscover urban culture in a new light. During the day, you can participate in activities like hip-hop workshops and a streetwear thrift shop. However, it’s in the evening that the magic happens when the concerts light up the two stages specially set up for the occasion.
Lumière Festival
The Lumière Festival is a celebration of cinematographic heritage and the magic of cinema. It’s a time when the past and present of cinema come together, offering a rich cultural experience full of emotions. This festival returns every year to help you (re)discover cinematic masterpieces. The Lumière Festival offers an exceptionally diverse film program, where classic films meet contemporary works. Additionally, the festival offers fascinating meetings with film personalities, including many figures from the cinema and television world.
Fête des Lumières
December in Lyon is synonymous with lights and lumignons. Every year on December 8th, the city prepares to host the famous Fête des Lumières, a tradition that dates back in time and delights the hearts of all Lyonnais. The Fête des Lumières is a must-attend event to celebrate this beautiful tradition and discover the many artistic works that illuminate the city.
Events in Saint-Genis-Laval
Saint-Genis-Laval, a charming town near Lyon that hosts our Camping des Barolles, also offers a variety of must-see events in the Lyon area.
Les Foulées de Beauregard
Each year, at Beauregard Park, a special event takes place: Les Foulées de Beauregard, a family-friendly event that celebrates community spirit and solidarity.
Les Foulées de Beauregard has a strong charitable aspect, having raised over 290,000 euros since 2003 for more than 20 associations dedicated to helping sick or disabled children.
The event program is rich and varied, offering activities for all ages and skill levels. Participants can choose from various races, and nature lovers can also opt for a hike to discover the beauty of the surroundings.
Les Foulées de Beauregard is much more than a sports competition; it’s a gathering where joy and good humor are contagious. Animations, roasted beef on the spit, and a free raffle add a festive touch to the event, creating a celebratory atmosphere.
European Heritage Days
This annual event brings the community together around a shared heritage, inviting locals and visitors to meet, share, learn, and marvel at everything the region has to offer. European Heritage Days celebrate our collective memory and the beauty of our past, offering an opportunity to preserve and highlight our history.
The program is varied and exciting, featuring guided tours of historical sites, artistic discoveries in libraries, walks through the city to admire architecture and monuments, exhibitions revealing hidden treasures, family-friendly activities, conferences for the curious, and discoveries that will amaze you.
Festival Les Toiles des Mômes
Immerse yourself in the captivating world of children’s cinema by participating in the Festival Les Toiles des Mômes, a cinematic experience specially designed for young audiences. The event offers a selection of films, including premieres, discoveries, and re-releases. The screenings are carefully chosen to appeal to all ages, ensuring that every viewer, from the youngest to the oldest, will find something they enjoy.
But the Festival Les Toiles des Mômes goes beyond just film screenings. It offers a complete cinematic experience with activities that extend the fun of the sessions. Visitors can participate in fun games, quizzes, and discussions that enrich their understanding of the films. Creative workshops, such as screen printing, add an artistic dimension to the experience, while scientific activities like tornado simulations provide an interactive way to explore the magic of cinema.
Les Météores
Each summer, Les Météores offer a weekly gathering for the people of Saint-Genis, transforming the town into an open-air theater. This family event aims to bring the community together through street arts, circus performances, music, and other forms of artistic expression, all for free. This summer event is a great way to celebrate the artistic richness of Saint-Genis-Laval and enjoy moments of conviviality in the open air.
Foire de la Sainte Catherine
The Foire de la Sainte Catherine perfectly embodies the tradition, evolution, and richness of the Saint-Genis-Laval community. It’s an event that brings generations, traditions, and passions together, creating a unique atmosphere where you can find everything from conviviality to local heritage and gastronomy.
Since the Middle Ages, the town of Saint-Genis-Laval has celebrated Sainte Catherine by hosting a tree fair. Over the centuries, this fair has become a must-attend event in the region. Until World War II, the fair mainly had an agricultural focus, with trees, small agricultural tools, and even livestock placed in the heart of old Saint-Genis.
In the 1970s, the fair expanded significantly, spreading throughout the town center. Merchants began setting up stalls in front of their shops, and local associations seized the opportunity to showcase their activities.
However, the true turning point came in 1984, during the town’s millennium celebrations. From this date onwards, the fair became more festive, offering animations, exhibitions, and demonstrations organized by local associations. It grew in dynamism and variety, attracting an ever-larger audience.
Today, the Foire de la Sainte Catherine still honors its agricultural heritage by giving pride of place to trees at Place Jaboulay. The event also celebrates nature, promoting and selling local products. It’s an opportunity for visitors to discover a wide variety of local products, taste delicious treats, and support regional artisans.
Fête de l’Europe
The Fête de l’Europe embodies the spirit of the European Union, promoting diversity, mutual understanding, and cooperation between cultures. It’s a unique opportunity to celebrate the richness of our continent while strengthening the sense of belonging to the European community.
This Saint-Genis tradition aims to promote European citizenship and culture within the local community. The program of the Fête de l’Europe reflects Europe’s diversity, offering a glimpse into the richness of our continent.
Other Events
Like the city of Lyon, Saint-Genis-Laval hosts other annual and occasional events.
Among these events are celebrations such as Christmas markets and music festivals. You can also visit the weekly local markets, where you’ll discover the authenticity of Saint-Genis-Laval’s markets, whether traditional or dedicated to organic products, all offering high-quality local products.
Finally, for occasional events, you’ll likely have the chance to attend shows and concerts. Many performances are organized, ranging from theater to dance and music. Music is also in the spotlight in Saint-Genis-Laval, with concerts happening throughout the year. Whether you’re a fan of rock, jazz, or classical music, you’ll find musical events to suit your tastes. You can also enjoy concerts in Lyon, whether they’re held at the Bourse du Travail, Halle Tony Garnier, or Transbordeur.